Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-06-11
G A T A r r H

THE TERM CATARRH Is AP-
Il piled to a peculiar disorder OF the
nostrils and adjacent parts, which prevails
to an alarming extent and is productive of
very serious consequences
The most prominent and Characteristic
features is a morbid discharge from the
head, varying in its nature at different
times.
In some there is an almost con slant flow
of clear, acid fluid, but oftener an offensive,
purultn MT. or muco-purulent, gieenish-yel-
low m latter is secreted, which accumulates
in the nostrils or drops into the throat.
neces essitating its frequent removal by blow
ing the nose or expectoraton, and often by
bosn processes. Sometimes patients feel as
though their whole head was in a state Of
rottenness, so great is the amount OF matter
discharged and SO fetid is Its odor The
patient is greatly annoyed by the constant
dropping into the throat of the morbid
matter from the head, and as reoumbent
position naturally favors the now down
wa d, his rest is frequently disturbed from
this cause. Many sufferers are obliged to
lie with the head very much elevated in
order TO sleep with some degree OF com
fort.
In others tough, viscid and offe nsivs
phlegm collects behind and above the soft
palate, in the passage between the tn oat
and head. adhering to the parts with gluish
tenacity. Its lodgment embarrosses respi.
ration and creates sensation OF irritation
and uneasiness in the affected locality.
which gives rise to a constant and almost
Irresistible desire to relieve the discomfort
by drawing the mucous into the throat so as
to eject it by the mouth. This practice,
popularly known as hawking" is chsrac
teristic of catarrh, and proves as embar-
rassing to the one affected as IL is disagree.
able to those around him
Again, the offensive matter hardens and
deposits itself on the membrane in the
shape of dry, hard concrelions, which are
discharged BY way of the nos riis or throat
in Jumps or fragments of deep green tint
In some cases these incrustations accumu-
late to such an extent rs to form regular
plug in the nose, which obstructs breathing
and produces serious discomfort. SO firmly
do these incrustations adhere 10 the point
of attachment that their removal usually
erquires the most violent efforts; not unfre
quently they have to be torn from the mem
braDe. Occasionally solid cast of notable
size is expelled, on which there are gener-
ally traces of blood, but in some cases the
cast presents tubular appearance, being
of exact shape of the nasal cavity. This
condition 10 indicative of liberation, which
in time may destroy the bony structure of
the nose and produce subsequent hatten-
ing of that organ.
Gases are occasionally met with in which
| thick, viscid, Shiny secretion coats the
membrane of the nasal cavities and then
puJrtfes, giving rise to stencil which is
really overpowering and sufficiently fetid
to poison the atmosphere of a whole room
and there are Others in which all the secre
tions of the membrane are suspended, caus-
ing an unpleasant feeling of dryness, heat
ana 10NerlsuuesS III tne nedu huO uOse-A
condition popularity known as "Dry Ca
tarrh."
The disease speedily extends to the air
cavities of the bones of the forehead and
face, giving rise to distressing sensation
of heavy weight or compression over the
forehead, especially in the region above
and between the eyes, and to a feeling of
fullness, heat, irritation, soreness or pain
| in the nostrils near the root of the nose,!i
we'll as in the upper part of the throat, above
and behind the soft palate. Sometimes
there is pain obstinately fixed in some par.
ticulaI part, as in the temple, on the top of
the head, at the back of the neck, or behind
the orbits, and occasionally pain manifests
Itself in the face of SO severe a character
| that it is frequently mistaken for neuralgia
The breath is always tainted and at times
| assumes an exceeding fetid and sickening
odor. In some cases it becomes SO revolt
ingly offensive as to render the sufferer
an object OF disgust to himself as well as to
others.
The nasal membrane is thickened and
| congested, causing the nose to be stopped
up, sometimes on one side, sometimes on
the other, and often on both, giving rise to
disagreeable stuffy sensation in the head,
and occasioning violent and prvlonhed
paroxysms OF sneezing.
The voice is weak, indistinct and husky,
or OF a nasal character, displaying a sort OF
shifting quality. Oftentimes there is con-
tinuous hoarseness and discordance. There
is also a sense of irritation in the throat
and frequent attempts to clear the parts OF
phiegm. producing the sound "hem" more
or less .forcibly. In some cases patients
complain of an uncomfortable feeling OF
fullness. or choky sensation in the throat
and in others of distressing ana almost
consta Mt dryness, for the temporary relief
OF which they have to swallow frequently.
Others. again, speak of constant bad or
nauseOus taste in the mouth or throat
The stomach generally suffers more or
less and becomes weak and irritable; the
appetite is capricious and nearly always bad
m ha ia1 pot1id
able to perform mental or physical labor
with the usual facility; is nervous, de-
pressed in spirits, at times fearful timid,
agitated and inclined to drowsiness and
sleep, the memory weakened and perman.
ent impairment threatened.
The mucus membrane soon becomes NOR.
bfdly sensitive to unfavorable influences,
and in spite of the utmost care becomes af.
fected from the slightest causes. SO that at
last breath of wind upon the lining of the
nose or throat becomes produ ctive of cold,
and gives rise to serious disturbances of the
respiratory organs. Thus the patient is sub
1ect to frequent and repeated colds, each
attack aggravating the disease by giving 1t
a new impulse and involving larger ex.
tent or surface than its predecessor. In this
manner the difticulty spreads from organ to
and bronchial tubes, until, encroaching
further and further, 1t reaches the fner
ramih ihcatfons of the bronchi, when but
sngnt impulse is required to send it to the
Y,
other organs in the body especially those
containing mucus membrane, such as the
stomach, bowels, kidneys, etc
~ the employm ment of proper inhalations
IN tue form OF medicated vapor mot steam
or spray we are able to produce immediate
and direct action upon the diseased surface
In the pharynx and nasal passages, for air
VIII hnd.ts way into the most remote and
sible to make fluid applications Bv these
means every case can be cured,
OzGNA.
Ozena is the professional or technical
name given to the advanced form of catarrh
III Wnich liberation has eaten through the
mem Drane lining of the nose to the cartil-
age OF the bone. Any case of catarrh may
END In oznna, but it most frequently occurs
IN y those VINO are naturally scrofulous. The
olscnarge taxes place through the nOstrils
or through the throat and is generally of
yeiicwish or greenish yellow color, freqent.
~ mnged with blood, and almost always at
guage of DR.. Wood, of Philadelphia. 'aThe
disease is ore of the most obdurate and
disagreeable which the physician has To
encounter. In bad cases the breath OF the
him from society aud to render him an OBJ.
ject OF disgust even to himself" In some
cases pieces OF bone become separated and
slough on. leaving deep, unhealthy ulcers,
tremely difficult to heal. After ozoena has
continued for some time the sense of smell
usually becomes impaired and often lost.
Deafness Is one OF the most common conse.
4uences, and results from its extension
through the eustachian tnbes to the internal
ear. Pains in the head and over the frontal
'inuses, impairing memory, and even In
sanity frequently springs frem its extension
o the BRAIN The greatest danger, however.
because the most common. is that 1t will
extend downward and affect the lungs. In
most cases OF pulmonary disease catarrh Is
PRESENT In some degree, and In many in.
tances IL causes large share of the pa
ient's discomf fort.
Besides these grave consequences, all OF
vhich are liable to spring from scfo ofulous
atarrh or ozDna. there are others which. II
ess dangerous. are sufficiently unpleasant
4 both sexes, by isolating them and pre.
enting their settlement In life. An often
I've running from the nose, with foul
reath, Is about as great calamity as can